Hate Blogger Wins Second Mistrial

Deadlocked jurors in the Hal Turner hate blogger case were excused late Wednesday after deliberating two days. It’s the second mistrial in the government’s case to prosecute the New Jersey man for allegedly threatening to kill judges.

Assistant U.S. Attorney William Hogan said a new trial was “highly likely.” A third trial was tentatively scheduled April 12 in New York federal court.

Turner, of New Jersey, blogged at turnerradionetwork.blogspot.com that the three judges of the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit of Appeals should be “killed” for upholding a Chicago handgun ban in June.

“Let me be the first to say this plainly: These judges deserve to be killed. Their blood will replenish the tree of liberty. A small price to pay to assure freedom for millions,” the 47-year-old blogger wrote.

He also posted addresses, photos, maps and other identifying information about Chief Judge Frank Easterbrook and Judges Richard Posner and William Bauer.

The first mistrial in December was declared after jurors, deliberating two days, said they were hopelessly deadlocked. That happened again Wednesday with a new jury. That second jury, and not the first one, heard testimony from the three judges who said they felt threatened by Turner’s writings.

Turner, who remains free, claimed he was an Federal Bureau of Investigation informant paid to disseminate right-wing rhetoric. Facing up to a decade in prison if convicted, the 47-year-old maintained the First Amendment protected his speech.